Meeting people in Estonian
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. Play the ten Estonian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Estonian phrases in this lesson
- Kuidas teil läheb?KOO-ee-das tayl LAE-heb
- How are you?
- Tänan, hästiTAE-nan HAES-tee
- I'm fine, thanks
- Aga teil?AH-gah tayl
- And you?
- Mis teie nimi on?mis TAY-eh NEE-mee on
- What's your name?
- Minu nimi on...MEE-noo NEE-mee on
- My name is...
- Kust te pärit olete?koost teh PAE-rit OH-leh-teh
- Where are you from?
- Ma olen pärit...mah OH-len PAE-rit
- I'm from...
- Mulle meeldibMOOL-leh MAYL-dib
- I like it
- See on ilussay on EE-loos
- It's beautiful
- Tere tulemastTEH-reh TOO-leh-mast
- Welcome
Use teil (polite you) with strangers, older people, or anyone in a professional setting. Estonians often answer honestly rather than just saying "fine," so be prepared for a real answer.
The standard polite reply to "how are you." Hästi means "well/good." You can also say Kõik on korras (everything is in order) for a slightly fuller response.
Polite. With friends: "aga sul?" (AH-gah sool).
Formal version. Casual: Mis su nimi on? (mis soo NEE-mee on). To give your name say Minu nimi on... (my name is...). Estonians have distinctive names worth asking about.
Formal. Casual: Kust sa pärit oled? (koost sah PAE-rit OH-led). Estonians are genuinely curious about visitors and this question often opens a longer conversation, especially outside Tallinn.
The country takes -st: "ma olen pärit Kanadast".
For Tallinn's old town, the obvious comment.
Literally "hello for coming".